werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (04/20/84)
[ Any bug fixed creates 3 news ones - I guess, that's why ...... ]
Just got another of those oil-company credit card invitations, this
one from CONOCO. I would not otherwise be tempted, but this one
includes the following phrase in RED:
MUST BE SIGNED AND S.S.# SHOWN TO BE VALID.
I could not resist, left the SSN out, replaced with a warning:
"according to the law you have no right to request it,
and I refuse to provide my SSN ! Should you deny the
card in result of this, you'll hear from my lawyer and
I'll see you in court"
I wouldn't be surprised if it will provide enough work to keep a few
poor lawyers employed and off the street ....
"Big Brother, let's not make it any easier for him"
werner @ ut-ngprcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (05/01/84)
An interesting sidelight - the University of Colorado has "student
identification numbers" which are the same as social security numbers. You
need a student ID for lots of things. This practice began about 13 years
ago, as I recall; prior to that, they had their own numbering system.
--
...Relax...don't worry...have a homebrew. Dick Dunn
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303) 444-5710 x3086rbc@houxu.UUCP (R.CONNAGHAN) (05/03/84)
I remember hearing that it is not illegal to request and use a persons SSN for record keeping and the such. Its only illegal when "THEY" use it for something "bad".
ron@brl-vgr.UUCP (05/04/84)
Actually, it is none of their business. Most places will make up a number for you if you refuse to give your social security number. I would guess that the real reason the credit people want it is to make it easier to find you in the credit database that is probably indexed by the SSN. I had the option of not giving my SSN to the FAA when I got my pilots license. But its nice to reduce the number of numbers that I have to remember. -Ron